Bar Admissions

James J. Brosnahan is named among the top 30 trial lawyers in the United States, according to the Legal 500 US. A lion of the trial bar, he is one of the most respected and recognized trial lawyers in the United States. Jim has been practicing trial and appellate law for over fifty years. He maintains an active practice of civil and criminal cases, very often cases that are going to trial or will be argued in Circuit Courts. In addition to his busy practice, he teaches a class on persuasion at UC Berkeley Law. Fascinated by many aspects of the law, Jim has an insatiable curiosity for many types of cases and will fight for justice, within the rules, for any of his clients. He has tried, to conclusion, 150 cases.

Mr. Brosnahan has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his distinguished career. In 1996, he was inducted into the State Bar of California's "Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame" and was awarded the Samuel E. Gates Award by the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2000 for his "significant, exceptional lasting contribution to the improvement of the litigation process." In 2001, Mr. Brosnahan was named "Trial Lawyer of the Year" by the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the following year, the San Francisco Lawyers' Club honored Mr. Brosnahan with its "Legend of the Law" award. In 2006, he was named one of America's most influential trial lawyers by the National Law Journal. In 2007, he received the American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Award for Professionalism and Ethics to recognize a "lifetime devoted to the highest standards of ethical practice, competence, and professionalism." In 2011, he received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee. He was recently recognized as a 2012 Lifetime Achiever by The American Lawyer which recognizes outstanding professional success and a devotion to public service. He was also a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Brosnahan has been recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA every year since its launch and has been inducted into the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame. He is also ranked by PLC Which Lawyer?, The Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 US, Benchmark Litigation, The Lawdragon Top 3000, The Best of the Best USA Litigation, Euromoney’s Expert Guides, and the top ten in Northern California Super Lawyers since its launch in 2004.

Mr. Brosnahan is active in professional activities and is a past president of the Bar Association of San Francisco, whose Volunteer Lawyers Service Program he founded. He was also a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Brosnahan has served as special counsel to the California Legislature's Joint Subcommittee on Crude Oil Pricing, the lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and Chairman of the Delegation. Mr. Brosnahan also serves as Master Advocate on the faculty and member of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Obtained the release of a man wrongly convicted of arson and murder seventeen years ago.

Large Verdict for Hospital

January 2013 - Obtained a $32M decision for the Marin General Hospital against Sutter Health.

Defense of Technology Company

Successful defense of a former chairman of the board and technology company charged with securities civil fraud allegations after a 6 week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. Achieved a complete defense verdict with jury out 3 hours.

Criminal Defense

Successful defense of Laotian American charged with the attempted overthrow of the Laotian government.

Patricia Dunn

Dismissal of all charges against Patricia Dunn, former chairperson of the board of Hewlett Packard Corporation.

Defense of Altera Corporation

Successful defense of the Altera Corporation in a patent case involving reprogrammable computer chips. Federal District Court, San Jose.

Defense of 3M in Breast Implant Litigation

Successfully defended a highly respected innovative product manufacturer in the first breast implant product liability jury trial in California. The plaintiff's science was excluded on motion and a non-suit was granted at the end of plaintiff's opening statement.

Representation of El Paso in California Energy Litigation

Lead counsel and chief negotiator in defense of the El Paso Corporation in all of its California litigation during the energy crisis.

Iran-Contra Prosecution

Associate member of Office of Independent Counsel: Iran-Contra. Lead prosecutor in U.S. v. Caspar Weinberger.

Oakland Raiders v. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Successfully defended the City of Oakland and County of Alameda in the Oakland Raiders litigation and lead defense counsel for the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum and an individual defendant in a five-month jury trial.

Defense of John Walker Lindh

(USDC, Eastern District of Virginia) Obtained dismissal of all terrorism-related charges against John Walker Lindh in a leading case regarding the United States legal war on terrorism.

Edward Pressman, civil and criminal litigation

Obtained successful result in civil and criminal cases for producers of the movie, The Crow.

USA v Steven Elias Psinakis

Successful defense of Steve Psinakis on charges of Interstate transportation of explosive materials.

California Supreme Court Argument for Redistricting Commission

February 2012 - Obtained successful unanimous opinion in the California Supreme Court on behalf of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission establishing all of the congressional, senate and assembly districts in the state.

Release for Innocent Man

Obtained the release of a man wrongly convicted of arson and murder seventeen years ago.

Large Verdict for Hospital

January 2013 - Obtained a $32M decision for the Marin General Hospital against Sutter Health.

Defense of Technology Company

Successful defense of a former chairman of the board and technology company charged with securities civil fraud allegations after a 6 week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. Achieved a complete defense verdict with jury out 3 hours.

Criminal Defense

Successful defense of Laotian American charged with the attempted overthrow of the Laotian government.

Patricia Dunn

Dismissal of all charges against Patricia Dunn, former chairperson of the board of Hewlett Packard Corporation.

Defense of Altera Corporation

Successful defense of the Altera Corporation in a patent case involving reprogrammable computer chips. Federal District Court, San Jose.

Defense of 3M in Breast Implant Litigation

Successfully defended a highly respected innovative product manufacturer in the first breast implant product liability jury trial in California. The plaintiff's science was excluded on motion and a non-suit was granted at the end of plaintiff's opening statement.

Representation of El Paso in California Energy Litigation

Lead counsel and chief negotiator in defense of the El Paso Corporation in all of its California litigation during the energy crisis.

Iran-Contra Prosecution

Associate member of Office of Independent Counsel: Iran-Contra. Lead prosecutor in U.S. v. Caspar Weinberger.

Oakland Raiders v. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Successfully defended the City of Oakland and County of Alameda in the Oakland Raiders litigation and lead defense counsel for the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum and an individual defendant in a five-month jury trial.

Defense of John Walker Lindh

(USDC, Eastern District of Virginia) Obtained dismissal of all terrorism-related charges against John Walker Lindh in a leading case regarding the United States legal war on terrorism.

Obtained successful result in civil and criminal cases for producers of the movie, The Crow.

USA v Steven Elias Psinakis

Successful defense of Steve Psinakis on charges of Interstate transportation of explosive materials.

California Supreme Court Argument for Redistricting Commission

February 2012 - Obtained successful unanimous opinion in the California Supreme Court on behalf of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission establishing all of the congressional, senate and assembly districts in the state.

Named among the top 30 trial lawyers in the United States by Legal 500 US (2012).

Named one of America's Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators (2018).

Named one of America's Top 100Criminal Defense Attorneys for Northern California (2017).

Named one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Northern California (2017).

Listed by the National Law Journal as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" (2006).

Listed by Chambers USA for White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2005-2017), Trial Lawyers (2009-2017), and General Commercial Litigation (2005-2009).

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2017) as a leader in the fields of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - ERISA, Litigation - Securities, and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Notably, Mr. Brosnahan has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1983.

Listed in Best Lawyers Business Edition (2016) as a leader in the fields of Bet-the-Company Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar Law.

Listed by The Legal 500 US as a leading lawyer in White-Collar Criminal Defense.

Listed in The Trial Lawyer's 2017 "The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100."

Named a leading lawyer by the Irish Legal 100 (2017).

Recognized by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys as one of the Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys in Northern California.

“One of the greatest trial lawyers in the country.” (Chambers USA 2013)

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